Johnathon Banks has the head coaching keys to Gennadiy Golovkin’s career. 

The former cruiserweight and heavyweight contender turned trainer has helped Golovkin over the last four fights dating back to June 2019. 

Golovkin split from longtime coach Abel Sanchez shortly after dropping a majority decision loss to Canelo Alvarez in Sept. 2018. Both fighters also fought to a split draw in 2017. 

Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs) and Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) will meet in a trilogy fight Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on DAZN pay-per-view.

Legacy will be on the line for both fighters – as well as Alvarez’s undisputed super middleweight title. 

Banks believes Golovkin – currently a unified middleweight titlist – still has plenty of juice left in the tank despite turning 40 years old in April and getting off to a slow start before stopping Ryoto Murata in his most recent fight this spring. 

“His power is going to 100% carry to 168 pounds,” Banks told BoxingScene.com and other reporters. “When you’re a true puncher, your power goes with you wherever you go. You don’t leave home without it – it’s there. 

“He’s a guy who comes in and doesn't leave until he’s finished. It’s almost to the point where you have to carry him out. He has a high-level work rate … You have to assess every fighter as an individual. I don’t go off what you consider the norm for age. I assess what I have in front of me and go from there. I don’t think of his age. It’s a matter of pulling him back so he doesn’t overdo it. His work rate is that of a 20-year-old.”

In addition to the Murata win, Banks – a former head coach for Wladimir Klitschko – has also guided Golovkin to victories against Kamil Szeremeta, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, and Steve Rolls. 

Golovkin said he is on the same page with the Emanuel Steward-disciple Banks. 

“I feel extremely comfortable. I am satisfied with everything. I have no second thoughts. If something does not go well during my performance, I can only blame myself. But in terms of our training process, it’s seamless,” said Golovkin. 

Banks was happy with Golovkin’s performance against Murata despite the fact that Triple G absorbed heavy leather in the opening rounds before rebounding and rallying to a one-sided finish. 

“I thought he had a pretty good performance [against Murata],” said Banks. “I don’t think it was the best he ever did. But we’re progressing with each fight to get better and better. I really believe that we’ve done that. We’re trying to get more efficient to do the things that he does best.”

Banks will be cornering Golovkin for the first time against Alvarez. The boxers have slugged it out and combined to land 823 punches between them across 24 rounds.

A feeling-out process shouldn’t be required once round 25 begins. 

“Canelo looks to me like he makes good adjustments in each move that he’s made. I think this fight will be a fight of adjustments – who’s going to make the adjustments the fastest and on time, and who betters stays the course. They don’t have to get to know each other anymore,” said Banks.

“I judge who I’m training in the corner harder than any judge can. I want to see the things that we’re working on … The goal is to get him into a rhythm to let his hands go.” 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.